With a steel frame, a private aerie in Johannesburg is elevated in more ways than one. In the bedroom, floor-to-ceiling glass doors slide open without any columns in the corner to block the views of the tree canopy below. Photo by Elsa Young.

Toaster Garden: Turn a broken toaster into a fanciful herb holder. Remove the toaster's electrical innards, and leave the bottom open. Use a brick to put potted herbs at the right height to grow out of the toaster slots.